3: You traitor, how dare you make fun of your master!
Li Yan swallowed the Lower Grade Blood Ovum Pill without hesitation, which displeased Senior Brother Ming Che, who had originally intended to toy with the two of them.
He had planned to use his authority to further tease Li Yan and Junior Sister Heart Zhi, but he didn't expect this kid to consume it so readily.
Without an excuse to cause trouble, Senior Brother Ming Che let out a reluctant cold snort: "I'll kill you sooner or later."
Senior Brother Ming Che glared at Li Yan, dropped this harsh remark, and then turned to leave.
It wasn't until he had left that the young girl in the corner quietly reminded him.
"Do you see that group of diners over there? Anyone who takes a Medicinal Pill will be captured by the old Dao to be used for Alchemy."
"Find a way to spit out the Medicinal Pill."
Li Yan looked in the direction of the voice; in this biting cold winter, the young girl was only wearing a thin coarse cloth garment and was barefoot.
He did not heed the young girl's warning, nor did he speak to her.
The diners here were all Alchemy Materials for the old Dao, and this kind-hearted girl who warned him might one day become a Medicinal Pill in the furnace.
Li Yan did not wish to get involved with anyone here.
He closed his eyes and felt the Lower Grade Blood Ovum Pill enter his Dantian, where it began to be absorbed by him.
Currently immunizing side effects for you, parasitic worms have been cleared for you, beginning to convert side effects...]
[Host has gained a new ability — Blood Qi Theft: Level 2 (Increases theft range, within 20 steps).]
Feeling the improvement in Blood Qi Theft, Li Yan had a bold idea.
He looked towards that group of diners.
These people had already been infected by the Lower Grade Blood Ovum Pill; their eyes were unfocused, saliva drooled from their mouths, and they had completely lost the ability to think.
Since they were no different from dead, a plan formed in Li Yan's mind. Taking advantage of no one else being around, he began to steal the Blood Qi of this group of people.
He found a stone step to sit on and began to absorb the Blood Qi of these people.
Countless crimson threads flowed out from the diners' bodies and began to flow towards Li Yan's body.
However, those with low strength could not perceive such a miraculous sight.
As long as their strength was not one major Realm higher than Li Yan, Li Yan could completely steal their Blood Qi without anyone knowing.
Aside from the kind-hearted young girl Heart Zhi who warned him, Li Yan did not lay a hand on her.
The Blood Qi of dozens of other diners gathered towards Li Yan's body.
This feeling was particularly comfortable.
Blood Qi surged into Li Yan's nostrils, entered his Dantian in his abdomen along with his breath, and slowly condensed.
In just the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Li Yan felt a slightSwelling pain in his abdomen, and his Dantian had changed.
Within the Dantian, a mass of crimson Qi Sea had initially formed, and the crimson Qi Sea began to churn.
This should be what the System referred to as Blood Coagulation Realm Layer 1.
He could feel the changes within his body; the Blood Qi in his Dantian began to flow through all his Meridians, continuously improving Li Yan's physical constitution.
Blood Coagulation Realm Layer 1, achieved!
Before Li Yan could even be happy, Senior Brother Ming Che's voice, that distinctive quacking sound, came from outside the courtyard.
"Master has arrived!"
Master!?
Li Yan quickly stopped Blood Qi Theft to avoid being discovered by that old Dao.
Others might not discover him stealing Blood Qi, but that old Dao might.
And upon hearing that the old Dao had arrived, while the other diners remained dazed, the young girl named Heart Zhi quickly hid in a dark corner.
Her small eyes kept hinting for Li Yan to hide as well.
Clearly, the young girl must have her way of survival. Li Yan silently retreated to the back of the crowd, hiding under the eaves.
Soon after, the door of the Stone Workshop was pushed open.
The squint-eyed old Dao, accompanied by his Disciple, strode into the courtyard.
The old Dao extended his gaunt, long arm and pinched the diners' faces, seemingly selecting Materials for Alchemy.
However, seeing the diners' pale faces, the old Dao's expression grew increasingly grim, and he looked back at Ming Che.
"Ming Che, why is the diners' Blood Qi insufficient? Did you perhaps embezzle the Medicinal Pills!"
Ming Che, who had been acting so self-important in front of Li Yan and Heart Zhi earlier, immediately knelt on the ground under the old Dao's reprimand.
"Master, this Disciple does not know!
"This Disciple has followed your instructions, feeding all the Medicinal Pills to the diners! There is absolutely no lie!"
The old Dao ignored Ming Che'sDefense explanation.
After continuously checking the complexions of several diners, his expression grew even more grim.
The squint-eyed old Dao suddenly turned his head, his eyes filled with sinister intent.
"Then why are all these people so sickly!"
It was at this moment that Li Yan, hiding in the corner, gradually realized something.
He had siphoned away the diners' Blood Qi, causing the old Dao to not find suitable Alchemy Materials.
The atmosphere on site gradually grew heavy, and cold sweat broke out on Ming Che's forehead: "Ma... Master, if it really doesn't work, let's take these two diners away."
Saying this, Ming Che pointed his finger at Li Yan and Heart Zhi.
This guy...
Li Yan clenched his fist; he was only at Blood Coagulation Realm Layer 1, and he was probably no match for that old Dao.
If the other party wanted to capture him for refinement, he would likely be doomed.
However, the old Dao snorted coldly: "These two newcomers, it's not their time yet."
"This old man's Alchemy plan cannot be delayed for a moment, hmm..."
As he spoke, the old man's gaze fell upon Ming Che.
At this moment, Ming Che was trembling violently, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and cold sweat pouring out.
The old Dao bared his yellow teeth and patted Ming Che's shoulder with his gaunt hand.
"I, your Master, still have things to attend to. It's getting late, I should go back."
He uttered these meaningful words, waved his whisk, and turned to leave.
Only Senior Brother Ming Che remained, kneeling on the ground, slumped.
Not good...
The diners' Blood Qi was insufficient, and he had become the substitute instead.
He had to find a way...
Thinking of this, Ming Che hardened his heart. He reached into his sleeve and pulled out the Blood Pill he had secretly hoarded.
This single Medicinal Pill was something he had saved up by scrimping and secretly hiding.
Now, to save his life, he had no choice but to use it!
"Come! Everyone, come and get the Medicinal Water!"
Ming Che shattered that precious Blood Pill with one palm and scattered it into the waterCylinder in the Stone Workshop.
Immediately, the group of irrational diners swarmed forward, scrambling for the water in theCylinder like pigs.
Li Yan watched all of this from the shadows. He wanted to see how the once arrogant Senior Brother Ming Che would handle this matter now.
Senior Brother Ming Che looked at the diners scrambling for the Medicinal Water and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
"As long as they drink this Medicinal Water, temporarily activating the Blood Qi in their bodies, it should be enough to fool them."
As long as he could fool them for a while, he could live a few more days!
After doing all this, Ming Che turned and ran out of the Stone Workshop.
But what he didn't know was that all of this was seen by Li Yan.
Watching this group of diners whose Blood Qi temporarily surged after drinking the Medicinal Water, Li Yan's lips curved upwards, and he slowly raised his palm to begin stealing.
This Blood Qi, without anyone knowing, all entered Li Yan's Dantian.
After he had drained the Blood Qi of this group of diners, Ming Che just happened to invite his Master back, stepped through the gate of the Stone Workshop, and pointed at the group of people in front of him.
"Master! Just now, it was probably because the Medicinal effect hadn't kicked in yet, please take another look!"
Ming Che led the old Dao back, full of confidence that he could temporarily fool him.
However, the old Dao merely glanced, then immediately gripped Ming Che's neck, lifting him with one hand.
"Rebellious Disciple! You dare to trick your Master!!!"